A cappella competitions have their pros and cons, but once you've decided that your group is ready, you'll want to find the right competitions to enter. This blog isn't about how to compete, or even the role of competition, but it will provide an initial listing of major a cappella and aca-friendly competitions.

NBC's "The Sing-Off" TV ShowOverview: Begun in 2009, NBC's reality competition show has exposed a cappella groups to millions of viewers in the US and awarded a Sony record deal to the winner. Various cities have live auditions from which producers choose the show's competitors who must then live in California for about 2 months to tape the show. There is now both a US and Dutch version of the show with rumors of further expansion.Competitors: groups of 4-15 persons; 12 years and older.Style: Any style is acceptable, but pop, R&B and rock are heavily favored with jazz, doo-wop, gospel and barbershop also making limited appearances.Cost: Free, in fact, they'll pay you a stipend to be a part of the show. In exchange you will devote time (approx 6 weeks or more in Los Angeles) and give up almost all your rights.Rules: the show reserves the right to change the criteria and format of the show at any time, so once you are selected, just do your best to be entertaining to the judges and voting public.How To Enter: here but live audition walk-ups have been accepted for Seasons 1-3. Video submissions are accepted, but are not recommended. Criteria: Entertainment value. Awards: Winner receives a Sony Recording Contract and $200,000 (possibly paid out over time, in an annuity).Note: Be advised that to participate, you will need to sign a contract in which you give up almost all rights to your songs, arrangements, performances, life story, ability to sue in the event you are hurt, freedom to talk about the show, etc. All show competitors do receive a modest stipend, round trip airfare, hotel and food if chosen for the show. Many competitors report that they have more opportunities due to their show appearance (higher paying gigs, opening for major acts like Ben Folds and Shakira, participating in Macy's parade etc.), however none have as of 2011, reported the kind of wealth and fame associated with major "stars".

The Harmony SweepstakesOverview: Begun in 1985, John Neil has since set up regionals in Boston | Chicago | Rocky Mountain | Los Angeles | New York | Pacific North West | San Francisco | Mid Atlantic (DC). Winners of these regionals are flown to the finals in Marin County, California (north of San Francisco) for a National Competition, usually held in the spring.Competitors: groups of 3 – 8 persons; any age.Style: Any style is acceptable, but usually pop, rock, jazz and barbershop.Cost: $10/person.Rules: hereHow To Enter: hereApplication Deadline: set by each regional.Criteria: 50% musicality; 50% performance.Awards: Regional winners get round-trip flights to compete in the nationals. CDs from the Primary A cappella Catalogue. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, original composition; arrangement; other awards TBD are awarded at all levels; National competitors are featured on a live recording.

Varsity Vocals aka The International Championship of High School A cappella and theInternational Championship of Collegiate A cappellaOverview: ICCA is the premiere competition for collegiate groups, and although ICHSA is considerably less well known among high schools, it is of growing importance there as well. Though billed as international, this is overwhelmingly a US competition that has a small amount of British participation, however efforts are being made towards expansion. January through April, five US and one European region hold contests which feed into a national final which is usually held in New York City at either Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center.Competitors: "permanent ... full-time students enrolled at your school or university ... Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis..." up to 24 members per group, but exceptions may be made for larger groups.Style: Any style is acceptable, but usually pop, rock, and jazz.Cost: $225/group, approx.Rules: hereHow To Enter: hereApplication Deadline: Received by Nov. 1stCriteria: 75 points vocal performance, 50 points visual performance and 30 points for subjective impression. The judging form has more detailed sub-categories.Awards: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, arrangement; soloists, choreography, et al.

SingStrong's A cappella Idol aka ACA-IdolOverview: Part of the SingStrong International A cappella Festival in Reston, VA, just outside of Washington DC, this competition borrows the American Idol format in which groups perform then receive live comments from a panel of judges immediately following their 10 minute performance.The audience votes by cell phone along with the judges to determine the winner.Competitors: any size group with members age 18 and over, some exceptions are allowed.Style: Any style is acceptable, but usually pop, rock, barbershop and jazz.Cost: Free to apply; free to compete with weekend pass; $15/person without pass, to compete, approx.Rules: hereHow To Enter: hereApplication Deadline: Rolling until spots fill up which is usually 2 months in advance of performance in March.Criteria: entertainment and musicalityAwards: 1st place award of $1,000; audience favorite award of varying amounts, but has included photo shoots and recording time.

SingStrong's High School Competition Overview: Part of the SingStrong International A cappella Festival in Reston, VA, just outside of Washington DC, this competition rewards high school groups with trophies and features world renown judges who give written feedback.Competitors: any size high school age or affiliated group, limited exceptions are allowed.Style: Any style is acceptable, but usually pop, rock, barbershop and jazz.Cost: Free to apply; free to compete with weekend pass; $15/person without pass, approx.Rules: here. Groups perform for 8 minutes.How To Enter: hereApplication Deadline: Rolling admission until spots fill up which is usually 2 months in advance of performance in March.Criteria: a team of high profile judges give written evaluations of musicality, performance and originality.Awards: Trophies for 1st, 2nd 3rd, Best Soloist M, Best Soloist F, Best Vocal Percussion, Best Original Arrangement, and Best Original Composition.

Fox's "The X-Factor" US TV ShowOverview: Simon Cowell's hit reality competition show offers a whopping $5 million first place prize. However the show, while accepting a cappella groups, is not limited to a cappella groups.Competitors: Singers and vocal groups 12 years of age or older as of March 1 who are legal U.S.citizens or eligible to work in the U.S. and do not currently have a music recording contract. Some restrictions apply.Style: Any style is acceptable, but usually pop, rock and pop-classical.Cost: Free to apply however contestants must agree to a waiver of a broad range of rights in their contract.Rules: hereHow To Enter: FAQ at massive open calls, hopefuls must line up early to get bracelets which entitle them to return one a day later to audition. Auditions usually involve about 30 seconds of introduction and 90 seconds of performance; hopefuls should be prepared for many hours of waiting and are advised to arrive early for everything in order not to be turned away. No overnight camping is allowed. Application Deadline: Most local auditions occur March -June. Season I cities include LA, Miami, Newark, Seattle, Chicago and Dallas.Criteria: entertainment valueAwards: $5 million first place (possibly paid out over a long period of time), fame, recording contract.

NBC's America's Got Talent TV ShowOverview: Created by Simon Cowell, AGT is open to a dazzling array of talents from juggling to a cappella with an average viewership of between 10-15 million people per episode.Competitors: Any age, any number.Style: Any style is acceptable.Cost: Free to apply however contestants must agree to a waiver of a broad range of rights.Rules: NBC removes rules after auditions are over, however the wikipedia article covers the event's general details.How To Enter: You do not have to sign up in advance for the audition, but doing so may guarantee time with the judges, and if you are something of a known entity, the show may be willing to fly you in for the audition. Even with an audition time, be prepared to wait in lines for extended periods of time. Some auditions are private and some are public. Auditions usually involve about 30 seconds of introduction and 90 seconds of performance; hopefuls should be prepared for many hours of waiting and are advised to arrive early for everything in order not to be turned away, however, no overnight camping is allowed. Youtube auditions are possible.Application Deadline: The show typically begins airing in late May to late June.Criteria: entertainment value.Awards: $1 million first place prize payable in a financial annuity over forty years (or the present cash value of such an annuity), and a show as the headliner on the Las Vegas Strip, fame.

Vokal Total's "The International A Cappella Competition"Overview: Graz, Austria is the site for the yearly, week-long Vokal Total a cappella festival which hosts 4 competition categories: A Capella Jazz Ensemble, A Cappella Pop Ensemble, Classical Vocal Ensembleand the "Emperor Of Mic" Beatboxing Battle. Judges are high profile European vocal artists. The Festival was founded by the Steirischer Sängerbund (Styrian Singers Association) in 1999 as a choir festival. The festival venue is a cathredal built into a mountain. Competitors: pro and amateur groups up to 12 peopleStyle: a cappella jazz, a cappella pop, classical vocal, beatboxCost: not posted.Rules: "The jury evaluates the performances according to clear rules". Rules were not available online.How To Enter: here.Application Deadline: Not posted, however the event is usually held in Mid-July.Criteria: unknown, but likely a combination of musicality and performance.Awards: 1st - 3rd prize in each category is awarded the Ward Swingle Award. Prize money for each 1st prize is 1,500 Euros (about $2,100. US Dollars) and high-end microphones provided by AKG . Additionally all participating ensembles will receive a diploma. There is an "audience award" as well.

International A cappella Contest LeipzigOverview: Formed in 2007, this German-based yearly competition takes place in June. Competitors: "A maximum average age of 28 years on the closing date [March 1] for entries and a group with between three and eight members are the main conditions."Style: any styleCost: Application is free" but "Groups who are admitted to the competition must pay an entry fee of €100 [about $140 US Dollars] per group."Rules: here. 15-20 minutes performanceHow To Enter: here.Application Deadline: March 1.Criteria: unknown, but likely a combination of musicality and performance.Awards: "The total prize money to be awarded to the winners is €4,000."($5,500 US Dollars, approx.)

SoJAM Collegiate A cappella CompetitionOverview: Based in Durham, North Carolina, SoJAM has been a draw for local collegiate groups since it was founded in 2003 by a cappella producer Dave Sperandio. The event is now run by CASA.Competitors: college groupsStyle: Any style is acceptable, but usually pop, rock and jazz.Cost: included in weekend pass of $70/per person, approx.Rules: Rules were not available online.How To Enter: here.Application Deadline: Not posted, however the event is usually held in November and the deadline to apply to compete is usually early October.Criteria: Not posted, but likely a combination of musicality and performance.Awards: 1st prize is a one year CASA membership (value = $30/member), a "cover story" on CASA, and 25% off SoJAM tickets for the following year (weekend pass in 2010 was $70, so value = $17/ticket approx); 1st and 2nd prize share a "feature" on the podcast "Mouth-Off"; 2nd place gets 10% off SoJAM tickets for the following year (value =$7/ticket approx)

America Can SingOverview: Begun in summer 2011, this organization is thinking big, though they're just starting out. Their website includes links to 7 major cities, but as of 2011, only Chicago's event has posted details. Facebook is a recommended option for those interested. Competitors: Unsigned singers who are 21 years of age or older. A cappella groups are welcome but will compete against karaoke singers.Style: Any style: oldies, jazz, r&b, pop, performed either to a karaoke back-up track, or a cappella.Cost: Despite some initial contradictory postings, producer Steve Biossat says that entry for participants is 100% free. Rules: Rules consist of 2 paragraphs with the text warning that "The full official rules" will be provided in your application. How To Enter: here.Application Deadline: Not posted, however the Chicago event is held each Thursday at 8PM from July 14 til the end of August 2011 at Chicago's Excaliber and Vision Nightclub632 N. Dearborn street Chicago, IL 312-266-1944. Other cities will have different deadlines as the contest expands.Criteria: Popularity. Singers choose 3 karaoke songs of which one will be assigned. The singers perform and the audience votes.Awards: $1000 in CASH, a RECORDING, PRODUCTION, MIXING & MASTERING SESSION at United Technique Recording, worth $6,500 (approx 15 hours, estimated). This studio's clients include Mariah Carey, Beyonce and CeLo; and a styling session with clothes from AKIRA Chicago, as well as a fashion photo shoot provided by AKIRA Chicago. Producers assure us that they are working hard to keep adding better and bigger prizes as they expand this newly formed contest.

Gone Loopy CompetitionOverview: Begun in 2011, TC-Helicon seeks to promote its looping technology with this youtube contest for "live loopers".Competitors: Anyone using TC-Helicon products to incorporate voices, such as with VoiceLive Touch, VoiceLive 2 or VoiceJam app.Style: Any style which incorporates vocals in live looping is acceptable.Cost: free.Rules: Terms and Conditions are at the bottom of the page. Multiple entries ARE allowed.How To Enter:

Record a video of yourself performing a vocal loop using your TC-Helicon Product.

Post the video to your YouTube account making sure “TC-Helicon Looping” is in the title and that your video is posted between the dates of the competition (July 8th, 2011– September 30th 2011).

Complete the online form to submit your video for the competition.

Loop steps 1, 2 & 3 again to up your chances!

Criteria: All entries will be judged by British beatboxer, Beardyman, looking for "quality, creativity, arrangement, talent, great use of your TC-Helicon product and general loopiness." Awards: Winner receives $1,000 US dollars in cash & a 45-minute Skype lesson with legendary beatboxer Beardyman. Multiple Runner's up receive "mystery TC-Helicon product", MP-75 Modern Performance Vocal Microphone with Mic Control.

Eurovision Song Contest TV ShowOverview: Begun in 1956, this TV competition has come to be Europe's largest. Each country holds its own national competition to find a single new, original song of 3 minutes or less as performed by a 16 year old or older. Many countries allow foreign nationals to compete (Switzerland was famously represented by Canadian, Celine Dion in 1988), though applicants must check each country's rules separately. NOT an a cappella competition, but a cappella is welcome.Competitors: groups of up to 6 performers, but back-up tracks with instrumental parts are allowed; each member must be at least 16 years old on the day of semi-final.Style: Any style, but usually pop; language requirements, if any, are determined country by country.Cost: Country by country. Rules: Rules describe average rules but these may change somewhat country by country.How To Enter: Search for the country of choice' + Eurovision.Application Deadline: country by countryCriteria: Popularity. European votes and a panel of judges determine the best song as performed.Awards: truly massive fame generally leading to money.

Got updated information on these or other aca-friendly contests? Contact us!